Sensor Cover Drainage Structure for Clear Lidar Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies, particularly in autonomous vehicles, face challenges in maintaining data accuracy due to environmental obstructions such as rain, dirt, and snow, which can degrade sensor performance and impact navigation and obstacle detection.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cover assembly is designed to protect sensors from obstructions by incorporating a cover that directs liquid away from the sensor's field of view, using channels and drainage systems to divert precipitation and debris, and optionally includes heating elements and manipulators to adapt to environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor cover is added to protect the sensor from precipitation and contaminants, then the sensor is protected from obstructions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is divided into separate functional components: the cover body, channels for liquid diversion, and a drain system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly acts as an intermediary protective layer between the sensor and environmental obstructions. It includes intermediate structures like channels and drains that mediate the interaction between precipitation and the sensor, diverting liquids away before they can contaminate the sensor surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If channels and drains are incorporated to divert liquid away from the sensor, then liquid diversion effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly incorporates channels and drains at specific locations where liquid accumulation is most problematic. The channel geometry and drain positioning are optimized for local liquid flow patterns, providing targeted protection where it is most needed rather than uniform protection across the entire sensor surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain system converts the harmful accumulation of liquid on the sensor surface into a beneficial controlled drainage flow. By providing designated drainage paths, the system transforms potential contamination into a controlled liquid removal process that actually helps maintain sensor clarity.
3Loss of information
If the cover is designed to direct liquid to a particular portion of the sensor, then field of view obstruction is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly employs asymmetric channel geometry and drain positioning that is specifically tailored to the sensor's field of view requirements. The channels are shaped and positioned to direct liquid away from critical sensing areas while allowing other areas to receive controlled liquid flow, creating an asymmetric protection pattern that optimizes field of view maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensor cover assembly effectively reduces obstructions on the sensor, improving the accuracy of data captured and enhancing the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle operations by minimizing the impact of environmental factors on sensor performance.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor cover assembly can include a cover to protect a sensor from precipitation (e.g., rain, snow, sleet, etc.), contaminants (e.g., mud, dirt, bird droppings, etc.), or other obstruction(s)... the cover of the sensor cover assembly can be configured to shield liquid from contacting an outer surface (e.g., a lens, window, etc.), direct the liquid away from the outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for protecting a sensor from an obstruction such as liquid are discussed herein. For instance, a sensor cover assembly can include a cover to protect a sensor from precipitation, contaminants, or other obstructions. The cover of the sensor cover assembly can be configured to direct an obstruction (e.g., a liquid) away from a lens of the sensor (e.g., a ring lens of a lidar sensor) to reduce obstructions to a field of view of the sensor. The cover can include one or more channels (e.g., a trough, a downspout, a gutter, etc.) or shapes (e.g., a curved surface, a sloped surface, a convex surface, etc.) to divert the obstruction away from the lens of the sensor.